Champions League: Poor start for Zenit, United down but not out

26.02.2014

Robert Lewandowski

A home defeat by two goals to four against Borussia Dortmund was not the start to the tie that Zenit Saint Petersburg fans expected and leaves the Russian team with everything to do in the second leg, namely win by three goals away in Germany. In the other game Olympiacos take a useful 2-0 lead to Manchester's Old Trafford Stadium but is it enough?

Olympiacos FC v Manchester United FC

Domínguez 38,

Campbell 55

Goals either side of the break gave the result to Olympiacos in Piraeus. Despite having less possession (46% to 54%), Olympiacos managed 12 shots, half of which were on target while United had eight shots, five off and three on. The first came after a shot from Giannis Maniatis on 38 minutes, deflected into the back of the net by Alejandro Domínguez. The second came on 55 from Arsenal loaned player Joel Campbell.

Borussia Dortmund got off to a super start with two goals by the five-minute mark. The first came on 4' from Mkhitaryan and Reus added the second a minute later. Shatov pulled one back for Zenit on 57' but Robert Lewandowski scored the 3-1 on 61 minutes. Hulk pulled back another on 69 minutes from the penalty spot but the Germans proved too strong and went two goals clear on 71' (R. Lewandowski again). While in football everything is possible, winning by three in Germany would be near to a miracle.

Previous Games in the Champions League

Champions: 4 Games, 4 away wins

After FC Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain beat Manchester City and Bayer 04 Leverkusen away yesterday, so today did Bayern Munich and Atlético Madrid beat Arsenal and AC Milan, the first match 2-0 in London and the second, 1-0 in Milan.

Arsenal 0 Bayern Munich 2

Kroos 54, T. Müller 88

AC Milan 0 Atlético Madrid 1

Diego Costa 83

Manchester City FC 0 FC Barcelona 2

Messi 54 (pen.); Daniel Alves 90

The sending-off of Demichelis on 53' was the beginning of the end for City. Messi scored from the spot one minute later and Daniel Alves made City's woes more intense on 90'. It was a game which Barcelona controlled with 62 per cent of ball possession against City's 38. There were 10 Barça shots to Manchester City's 9 and 4 corners to one.

Bayer 04 Leverkusen 0 Paris Saint-Germain 4

Matuidi 3; Ibrahimovic 39 (pen.), 42; Cabaye 88

Man of the Match Ibrahimovic scored a brace after Matuidi started off the best way for the Parisians. By the time Cabaye had sent the match out of Bayer's reach, Spahic was went off on 59', in a game in which PSG had 12 shots, all on target, to Bayer's 5 (3 on) and the visitors had a ball possession of 59% to 41%.

Champions and Europa League draws

The matches are drawn for the last 16 clubs of the Champions League and the last 32 of the Europa League The Champions League matches will take place on February 18/19 and 25/26 and March 11/12 and 18/19. The Europa League games will be on February 20 and 27. Zenit is the only flag carrier for Russia in the Champions, 3 teams continue in Europa.

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